BOAT TEST: ARVOR 215

There’s a fine line between practicality and aesthetics but the Arvor 215 manages to straddle it nicely, says Mark Robinson

ARVOR 215

The Arvor 215 is a handsome boat with lines that are both stylish and practical, with a shippy, seaworthy promise inherent in its design.

Its underwater section is best described as a semi-planing hull, but one which can get along at a fast enough clip, with a sprightly 17kts being the suggested cruising speed. The hull features what is described as a slight keel and full skeg aft, the latter providing a degree of protection for the four-blade, shaft-driven bronze prop and stainless steel rudder, while the wide chines provide impressive stability, particularly at rest.

NO-NONSENSE BOAT

The 215 measures 6.36m long (excluding the swim platform), with a 2.54m beam, yet the lines of this craft give it a bigger appearance than these measurements suggest. Including the swim platform in the measurements gives it an overall length of 6.88m. The Arvor has a 0.75m draft and a displacement of around 1650kg, including engine. The fuel tank holds 95lt and the vessel is rated for six occupants.

Construction material is listed as solid GRP, with the hull-to-deck-join both bolted and glued. A close inspection of this craft showed it to be well finished, with tasteful use of wood along the cockpit coamings and on the bench seats.

There's fishing room aplenty aboard this craft, with its full walk-around cabin and spacious cockpit. The split bowrail is high enough to provide good occupant protection in a seaway, and there's a spacious anchorwell up front, and substantial hardware in keeping with the no-nonsense theme carried throughout.

Designed in Europe primarily for use in the North Sea, this vessel has none of the claustrophobic feel so often encountered in boats from colder climes. It features a light and airy wheelhouse, with a small side-hatch for both ventilation and communicating with crew on the foredeck, while a large clear-hatch on the cabin topsides funnels in plenty of air and light.

Visibility from the helm station is very good, and the five-spoke wheel falls readily to hand. The instrumentation is right within the sightlines of the average height boatie, and a fair sized compass was fitted to the test craft. Moreover, it was fitted right where it should be for the skipper to sight directly over when attempting to steer an accurate compass course.

DIESEL POWER

The test craft was powered by a four-cylinder, CMD 2lt, 115hp, shaftdrive diesel-motor with high-pressure common rail injection, claimed to provide not only economical running, but also significant smoke and noise reduction. Counter-balance shafts on these engines also smooth any vibrations, while heat-exchangers and exhaust manifolds have been incorporated to reduce both size and weight.

The mechanical fitout of the Arvor is certainly neat, and all components appear readily accessible for either servicing or repair. A state-of-the-art SmartCraft engine-display system places key information right at the skipper's fingertips.

With just a slight nudge of the throttle, the Arvor surged forward, lifting as it did so, and at around 8kts (15kmh) it was virtually planing. Further throttle advances provided a quite linear increase in speed. The wheel was light and positive and somewhat unusually, the Arvor can be tiller-steered, a popular feature apparently among boats used for fishing in northern hemisphere waters like the North Sea.

The underwater configuration of this vessel provides a different feel to a true planing hull as wave action from the side influences the hull's position to a greater degree than one might expect. On the test day the sea was in an especially calm mood so I didn't experience this to any real extent. However, overseas tests suggest this effect can cause some side-to-side wandering as the keel is pushed sideways in a boisterous seaway.

To gain some feedback regarding the softness of the ride I chased down a 45ft Riviera and drove back and forth across the not inconsiderable wake. The Arvor took the lumps in its stride with little apparent jarring. The stainless bar which acts as a passenger footrest jangled somewhat, but this would be an easy fix. Wake characteristics are never quite the same as a chopped up seaway, but the softness of the ride as we cut across the Riv's wake suggested the Arvor possessed the ability to handle the kind of sea conditions often found offshore in our waters.

IMPRESSIVE STANDARDS

The list of standard features is quite impressive and includes hydraulic steering, an electric anchor winch, two electric bilgepumps, full engine instrumentation, an electric windscreen wiper, a VHF radio and AM/FM radio/CD player, a cutting board, mooring cleats, rodholders and gunwale rollers, a swim platform with stainless steel ladder and outboard bracket, plus a baitboard and transom door.

The V-berths are sufficient for an average size adult to overnight on or catch forty winks between tides, and with the lockable sliding cabin-door they would make a snug haven in colder weather. The cockpit features two fold-up benches that are a practical feature on slow fishing days, and which can be kept out of the way when the action is hot and heavy. Two lockers are accessed by hatches in the sole, and there's plenty of storage for either fenders or for those that didn't get away. And, given the inbuilt livebait tank with electric pump, plus the inbuilt tackle drawer, there should be plenty of finny creatures brought aboard.

A huge safety feature is the fully selfdraining deck with generously sized scuppers. This quickly and efficiently sheds any greenwater that comes aboard, and any rainwater that might otherwise collect if the craft is moored. While on safety features, I should mention the well placed stainless steel grabrails that abound on this vessel and provide secure handholds just about anywhere you choose to either sit or stand. Reboarding from the swim platform would be a cinch, thanks to the stainless steel ladder and the abundant handholds.

THE RAP

There are six models in the Arvor range available here in Australia and in the 10 years these craft have been imported they've enjoyed quite a degree of sales success. Summing up the 215, it's a craft that is well worth considering if you're in the market for a quality vessel. It's loaded with both safety features and practical aspects, but with timeless styling. Equipped as tested, the Arvor 215 sells for $112,950 and while there's much more that can be said about this well appointed craft, I'll let the pictures do the talking.